Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Golf7]

And I can only imagine how much they will stuff up the R...

[Arnold]

I must say that I'm really disappointed with VW Australia, the new GTI is so not worth it over the regular Golfs. The price difference is just too much.

One should not feel let down by VW Australia, the importer of VW cars, for the shortcomings of a car designed, manufactured and priced, in the first instance, by Volkswagen AG, should one?

When you take into account the exchange rate of 0.69 Euro per AUD, shipping and import duty of 5%, the price is fairly close to what the car sells for in Germany.

[Golf7]

One should not feel let down by VW Australia, the importer of VW cars, for the shortcomings of a car designed, manufactured and priced, in the first instance, by Volkswagen AG, should one?

But almighty Head Office does set prices, trim levels and the like...

[Golf7]

I've got the car until midday tomorrow, if anyone has any questions for me, or if you need me to dissect something, let me know. But these roads are just... STUNNING! I want to live here!



WSD 25B, my car for the day and a half! It's a manual, its the one you MUST get. The transmission itself is very nice!
Oh and I'd like the upload the Press Kit for all of you guys, I know how painful it is for enthusiasts to read brochures... Any idea how I can do this on the forums? And on a side note, every single of other journo is whinging about the high price too...

[Arnold]

But almighty Head Office does set prices, trim levels and the like...

One would need to do a like for like comparison too see how Australian prices compare with Germany's and then allow for shipping and import duty. The difference would not be great I do not believe.

Whatever the case, I bet a GTI takes fewer weeks on average weekly wages to pay for in Australia than it does in Germany, nein?

[Diesel_vert]

it is now a bit lacking for purists

Volkswagen never intended for the (modern) Golf GTI to be bought by purists or those after ultimate driving thrills, as opposed to the philosophy of RenaultSport and the Clio (previous model) & Megane.

From the Mk5 Golf GTI onwards, they were, and still are, a very good all-rounder. It's 90% good at everything it does, which is definitely not an easy feat for any manufacturer to achieve, and is more than what the general public will ever want or need from such a car to keep them satisfied - keeping in mind of course, that it's the general public that generate sales volumes, so you'll want to keep them happy for sure.

Driving purists or enthusiasts, in reality, only represent a tiny portion of the market.

[Golf7]

One would need to do a like for like comparison too see how Australian prices compare with Germany's and then allow for shipping and import duty. The difference would not be great I do not believe.

Whatever the case, I bet a GTI takes fewer weeks on average weekly wages to pay for in Australia than it does in Germany, nein?

Das wäre richtig, würde ich sagen. Aber ich denke immer noch, dass es zu teuer ist.

[Arnold]

I've got the car until midday tomorrow, if anyone has any questions for me, or if you need me to dissect something, let me know. But these roads are just... STUNNING! I want to live here!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5630[/ATTACH]

WSD 25B, my car for the day and a half! It's a manual, its the one you MUST get. The transmission itself is very nice!
Oh and I'd like the upload the Press Kit for all of you guys, I know how painful it is for enthusiasts to read brochures... Any idea how I can do this on the forums? And on a side note, every single of other journo is whinging about the high price too...

Good work! Keep up the whinging. The pricing is appallingly high. Outrageous. Tell the VWA officials everyone on VWW is up in arms and planning on placing orders for Ford Foci.

Doesn't VWA realise they're supposed to add equipment and lower the price on new cars, a la Mazda?

Does either manual or auto have mirror-down-on-reverse?

[Arnold]

Das wäre richtig, würde ich sagen. Aber ich denke immer noch, dass es zu teuer ist.

Du klingst wie ein Deutsch!

[Golf7]

Volkswagen never intended for the (modern) Golf GTI to be bought by purists or those after ultimate driving thrills, as opposed to the philosophy of RenaultSport and the Clio (previous model) & Megane.

From the Mk5 Golf GTI onwards, they were, and still are, a very good all-rounder. It's 90% good at everything it does, which is definitely not an easy feat for any manufacturer to achieve, and is more than what the general public will ever want or need from such a car to keep them satisfied - keeping in mind of course, that it's the general public that generate sales volumes, so you'll want to keep them happy for sure.

Driving purists or enthusiasts, in reality, only represent a tiny portion of the market.

Completely agree, the Golf has that legendary formula and after all, nobody can come close in terms of all-round user-friendliness and usability. Many have tried, but the Golf is still the one to beat. But I must say that it does tread a fine line between being ultra-brilliant and a bit boring... Think of the Jetta, and you know what I mean. You see the Golf is just so classy and stands out in its class so much that it gets away with being a tiny bit dull... But I agree, the formula has been refined once again and ultimately, at the end of the day, this is THE best hot hatch and THE best medium family hatchback.

[Golf7]

Du klingst wie ein Deutsch!

Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch, aber ich bin nicht sehr gut!

[irossiter]

I didn't need to replace the pads in my Mk V GTI at 65,000 when I traded it and I have done 58,000 now in the Mk 6. Probably lots of highway kms BUT I have to say what the hell were you doing to the brakes! It is not a car designed for a racetrack so I think it's a particularly silly thing to say the brakes are rubbish.
Arnold, I wasn't comparing the prices when on drive away specials. I didn't buy my car when it first came out. I'm still totally unconvinced about VW prices and think they will regret what they are doing. They forget that they don't have 4 rings on the bonnet.

[irossiter]

I think in every test overseas of the Mk 7 their only real complaint is the price

[Diesel_vert]

at the end of the day, this is THE best medium family hatchback.

I think most people would agree with that sentiment, or at least, one of the best in class.

and THE best hot hatch

I wouldn't so sure about that, because it depends on what one looks for in a hot hatch, since evaluating the driving experience involves more than just facts and figures. All-round user-friendliness and usability may make a great hot hatch to some, but to others who are more demanding about what the driving experience should entail, that isn't enough - but again, a purist wouldn't really be considering a Golf GTI anyway.

[irossiter]

Golf 7, please tell the VW mob that they have priced their cars way too high and that they must offer a manual PP GTI. If it's available in every other country then why not here!